Barnet

Barnet's population increased by about 41,800 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 360,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Barnet increased by 13.3%, from almost 315,000 to 356,000.

The addition of almost 42,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Barnet was home to, on average, 29 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Barnet

Latest census data also show that the median age of Barnet remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a higher average age than London and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 9,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just under 700.

About 14.0% of people in Barnet are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Barnet by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Barnet

The percentage of Barnet residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.5% to 3.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 17 (6.0%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.5% in 2001. The percentage of Barnet residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.9%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Barnet, but at a slower rate than in Brent (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Barnet).

In Barnet, the proportion of private renting increased from 16.4% in 2001 to 25.6% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Brent increased from 17.9% to 30.1%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15.3% to 25.1%.

The rate of social housing in Barnet fell from 14.8% to 14.2%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 66.0% to 57.7%.

Private renting in Barnet increased by 9.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Barnet, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Barnet

In 2011, 18.5% of Barnet residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 14.4% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 13.2% to 18.5%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 64.1% of people in Barnet said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 74.0% in 2001. About 7.7% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 6.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group) increased from 2.6% to 4.9%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Barnet increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Barnet by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Barnet

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Barnet was among those who said they were Muslim, rising 4.4 points.

In 2011, 11.3% of respondents in Barnet gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 6.8% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as Muslim increased from 9.3% to 13.5%, while across England the percentage went from 3.5% to 5.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Barnet, 45.0% said they were Christian, compared with 52.4% in 2001. About 17.6% said they had no religion, compared with 14.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Jewish increased from 16.4% to 16.6%.

In Barnet, 8.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 9.7% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population who identified as Muslim in Barnet increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Barnet by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of one-person households fell here at a faster rate than in nearby Brent.

In Barnet, the proportion of one-person households decreased from 31.3% in 2001 to 27.9% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Brent decreased from 29.0% to 27.8%.

Across London, the share of one-person households decreased from 34.7% to 31.6%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Barnet increased from 6.2% to 6.7%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 34.6% to 34.4%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Barnet residents that were self-employed increased from 12.2% to 15.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in two (47.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 49.4% in 2001. The percentage of Barnet residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 9.0% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Barnet increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Barnet, London and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Barnet residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.3% to 4.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.5%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72.5% in 2001. The percentage of Barnet residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.2% to 11.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Barnet decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Barnet, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Barnet working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13.9% to 11.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 13.2% in 2001 to 11.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Barnet decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Barnet, London and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Barnet with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.7% to 10.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (33.5%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Barnet without children decreased from 59.4% to 55.9%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across London

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Barnet

The percentage of married people changed very little in Barnet, while the proportion fell in Enfield (one of the most statistically similar areas to Barnet based on ONS area classifications).

In Barnet, the proportion of married people decreased from 47.9% in 2001 to 47.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Enfield decreased from 48.0% to 44.2%.

Across London, the share of married people decreased from 41.7% to 40.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Barnet increased from 35.9% to 37.2%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 8.8% to 9.9%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Barnet residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.5% to 1.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Barnet remained close to 1.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Barnet by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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